Bill > HR186

This bill, the Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act, aims to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to coordinate federal and state permitting processes related to the construction of new surface water storage projects on lands under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture. It designates the Bureau of Reclamation as the lead agency for permit processing. The bill establishes the Bureau as the lead agency for coordinating all reviews, analyses, permits, and approvals required under federal law for qualifying projects, which include new surface water storage projects in certain western states. It also outlines the responsibilities of the Bureau and the cooperating agencies in this process, including establishing a project schedule, preparing a unified environmental review, and maintaining a consolidated administrative record. Additionally, the bill allows the Secretary to accept and expend funds contributed by non-federal public entities to expedite the evaluation of permits related to qualifying projects, while ensuring impartial decision-making.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/186/all-info